Combination utility case and roll book



Oct. 25, 1949. R, s c 2,485,862

COMBINATION UTILITY CASE AND ROLL BOOK Filed April 3, 1946 \Z IN VEN TOR.

26 GEORGE 1?. 4546/10/64,

Patented Oct. 25, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINATION UTILITY CASE AND ROLL BOOK 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in utility cases and has particular reference to cases embodying a plurality of storage compartments for miscellaneous articles, such as pencils, cigarettes, etc.

An important object of the invention resides in a utility case as above indicated, having the general shape and dimensions of a bound book, with transparent cover walls and a changeable exhibitor arranged in the case adapted to be passed beneath the cover walls, such changeable exhibitor carrying educational matter, pictures, short stories or the like, to be observed and read through the transparent cover.

A further object of the invention resides in a case having a plurality of storage compartments and a changeable exhibitor arranged in the case upon suitable winding spools, replaceable at the will of the operator, such exhibitor being preferably imprinted upon both sides, with means carried by the case for alternately exhibiting both sides thereof beneath transparent cover plates.

Other and important objects of the invention will present themselves during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a preferred form of the invention,

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig ure 1,

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a case as a whole, formed of metal, wood, plastic or the like, comprising a central section 6 and end sections I and 8. The sections 6, l and 8 are generally rectangular in shape, with their rear portions rounded and formed tubular, as indicated at 9, IE] and I I. The sections are held in alignment by a relatively thin tube I2, extending through the combined length of the tubular portions 9, I0 and I I and fixed against turning in the sections Ill and II.

As shown in Figure 3, the section H3 has a closed end wall I3, while the section II is provided with a hinged door opening, as indicated at I4. Suitable hinge means, not shown, is provided for the door and a latch, indicated at I5, retains the door in closed position. The door I4 and its complemental hinge and latch mechanism is supported with respect to the tube I2 by a thirnble l6, having an outer flange IT. The thimble is provided with spring retaining fingers I8, having annular ribs that engage in a groove of a fixed collar I9, rigidly secured in the tube I2. It is obvious that other types of mountings may be employed for the door M, with equal success.

Mounted within the body portion of the end sections 1' and B, are feed and take-up spools 20 and ii, carrying a strip of film, paper, cloth or the like material A, to be fed from one spool to the other, or reversed at the will of the operator. The spools are controlled by knobs 22 and 23, carrying shafts 26, slidably and rotatably mounted in bearings 25 in the side walls of the sections I and 8. The shafts carry keys at their inner ends for engagement in slots formed in the ends of the spools 2b and 2I'. The shafts are slidable under the influence of the knobs 22 and 23 for the release and replacement of the spools and, suitable detents carried by the bearings serve to retain the shafts in their engaged and disengaged positions.

The strip A is imprinted upon both sides throughout its length with pictures, educational matter, fiction stories and various other data that may be read continuously as the strip is wound from one spool to the other. The strip passes over the body portion 6a of the section 6, which is recessed upon both sides, as indicated at 26. The body portion is formed with a compartment 2?, having a forward open end 28, normally closed by a hinged cover plate 29. Latch means generally indicated at 30, serves to retain the cover in closed position. The compartment 21 serves as a storage space for cigarettes, or the like.

The section 6 is held against accidental pivotal movement with respect to the sections I and 8, by upper and lower plates of transparent material 3i and 32, hinged as at 33 and 36 upon the upper and lower faces of the section I. The plates 3! and 32 when in closed position, engage shoulders 26a, adjacent the sides of the recesses 25. The ends of the plates, when in their closed position, are engaged and held by overlapping latch plates, indicated at 35. It will thus be observed, that when the transparent plates 3i and 32 are in the latched position, the central section 6 is rigidly held in alignment with the sections 1 and 8. As clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5, the strip A passes beneath the transparent plates and is easily read therethrough, being protected against soiling and damage in handling.

Since the strip A is to be printed upon both sides, it becomes necessary to provide means for permitting the reading of the reverse side after the strip has been fed through the predetermined length. To accomplish this, the transparent plates are unlatched from the section 8 and swung outwardly, releasing the central section 6 for pivotal movement. The section 6 in the position of Figure 2 is swung down and around, pivoting upon the tube I2, making a complete revolution, until it has again become aligned with the sections 7 and 8, which action has caused the strip A to be engaged in the opposite recess 26, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2. The plates 3| and 32 are then again latched in position and the strip A is exposed upon its opposite side for reading through the plate 32. The strip A is to be manufactured in various forms, carrying popular stories, educational data and the like and may be substituted at will, much in the same manner as a roll camera.

It will be seen from the foregoing that extremely simple forms of utility cases have been provided. The devices provide storage compartments for small articles that are frequently needed, such as pencils, cigarettes and the like and in addition embodies a roll book that presents itself at the will of the operator. Rolls may be substituted carrying a wide range of subjects for persons of all ages, from amusement strips to educational or fiction reading. The devices may be manufactured in a wide variety of materials, colors, etc. The construction is very simple, strong, durable and highly efficient in use and may be produced at a relatively low cost.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise form shown, but that it includes within its purview whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a pair of fixed casing sections and a pivotally mounted casing section arranged between the fixed sections, pivotal means for the pivoted section carried by the fixed sections, means for maintaining the sections in fixed relation, spools in the fixed sections, a printed strip engaging the spools, means for rotating the spools, strip guides formed upon the pivoted section, transparent cover plates carried by the fixed sections and extendingover the pivoted section, said transparent plates serving as means for retaining the pivoted section against movement.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of fixed rectangular casing sections and an intermediate pivoted casing section, a, tubular hinge member carried by the fixed sections and extending through the intermediate section a tubular compartment formed by the tubular hinge and closed at one end, a hinged cover for the opposite end of the compartment, a winding spool arranged in each of the fixed sections, a printed strip passing from one spool to the other, recesses formed in the pivoted section upon opposite sides to serve as a guide for the strip, transparent cover plates positioned upon opposite sides of the sections, means for hinging the said transparent plates to one of the fixed sections, latch means carried by the other of the fixed section to engage the free edge of the plates, said plates extending from one fixed section to the other and overlying the pivoted section, said plates when in latched position serving to retain the pivoted section in alignment with the fixed sections and against pivotal movement, means for rotating the spools and means whereby the pivoting of the pivoted section serves to expose the opposite side of the strip.

3. A utility case of the character described comprising a pair of rectangular shaped casing sections fixed with respect to each other and in alignment, an intermediate casing section arranged between the fixed sections, a tubular member extending through the several sections adjacent their corresponding edges, said tubular member fixed with respect to the fixed sections, said intermediate section pivotally supported upon the tubular member, winding spools arranged in the fixed casing sections, a printed strip passing from one spool to the other, said strip printed upon both sides, a recess formed in the upper and lower faces of the pivoted casing section, said recesses adapted to be traversed by the strip, transparent cover plates upon the upper and lower faces of the device, said plates hingedly connected to one of the fixed sections, latch means carried by the other of the fixed sections for engaging the free edges of the plates, said plates when in latched position overlying the pivoted section and its recesses for maintaining the pivoted section fixed and in alignment with the fixed sections, said plates when released permitting the pivoting of the intermediate section to engage the strip upon its opposite side for exposing its printed surface, a storage compartment formed by the tubular member, a closure for the compartment, a storage compartment formed in the body of the intermediate section open upon one side and a closure cover for the last named compartment.

GEORGE R. ASACHIKA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

